75th Berlinale Opens with Glamour and Politics

By Pickle February 16, 2025

The 75th Berlinale, one of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals, officially began February 13 on a bright note and runs until February 23, celebrating cinema from across the world while continuing its legacy as a politically engaged festival.

Opening Film & Special Honoree

The festival opened with the world premiere of “The Light,” directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Tom Tykwer. Known for classics like “Run Lola Run” (1998) and the hit series “Babylon Berlin”, Tykwer’s latest film stars Lars Eidinger and Nicolette Krebitz, exploring the impact of a Syrian housekeeper on a middle-class German family. It received negative reviews, being described as a “farrago of nonsense.”

A major highlight of the opening ceremony is the presentation of the Honorary Golden Bear to Tilda Swinton, recognizing her lifetime achievement in film. The Scottish actress has been a frequent presence at Berlinale, previously serving as jury president in 2009 and featuring in 26 films at the festival. Oscar-nominated director Edward Berger (“All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Conclave”) delivered a tribute speech in her honor.

· Speech on Global Politics: Tilda Swinton delivered a powerful speech addressing global political issues, stating, “The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch.”

· Criticism of American President Donald Trump: Swinton criticized “efforts of occupation, colonization, takeover, ownership or the development of Riviera property,” appearing to take a swipe at Trump.

· Call to Action for Streamers: Swinton urged streaming platforms to invest in renovating and revitalizing cinema theaters worldwide.

· Audience Reception: Her speech resonated strongly with the Berlinale audience, showcasing her charisma and principled stance.

· Praise from Todd Haynes: Berlinale jury head Todd Haynes called her a “visionary.”

· Planned Hiatus from Filmmaking: Swinton announced she will take a break from acting in 2025 to spend time at her home in Scotland.

New Vision of Festival Director

This is the first Berlinale under new festival director Tricia Tuttle, who aims to modernize the festival while maintaining its tradition of political engagement.

One of her major innovations this year is “Perspectives”, a new competitive sidebar exclusively for feature debuts, aiming to showcase emerging filmmakers. The winner will receive the Best First Feature Award, which includes a €50,000 ($52,000) cash prize.

Competition Jury & Highlights

The festival’s seven-member international jury will be led by US director Todd Haynes (“Carol,” “I’m Not There”). Other jurors include:

Fan Bingbing (Chinese actress)
Maria Schrader (German filmmaker and actor)
Nabil Ayouch (Moroccan-French director)
Bina Daigeler (German costume designer)
Rodrigo Moreno (Argentine filmmaker)
Amy Nicholson (US critic and podcast host)

They will select this year’s Golden and Silver Bear winners, to be announced on February 22.

This year’s main competition features 19 films from 26 countries, with notable entries including:

“Yunan” (Ameer Fakher Eldin) – A co-production involving Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, starring Georges Khabbaz and legendary German actress Hanna Schygulla.
“Timestamp” (Kateryna Gornostai) – The only documentary in competition, offering insight into Ukrainian school life after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Star Power at Berlinale

Several big Hollywood and international names are expected to walk the red carpet, attending the premieres of their films, including:

Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Andrew Scott – for “Blue Moon” (Richard Linklater).
Rose Byrne, A$AP Rocky – starring in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (Mary Bronstein).
Marion Cotillard – headlining “The Ice Tower” (Lucile Hadzihalilovic).
Jessica Chastain – lead in “Dreams” (Michel Franco).
Timothée Chalamet – portraying Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown”.
Jacob Elordi – attending the premiere of “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” (Justin Kurzel).
Benedict Cumberbatch – starring in “The Thing with Feathers”, premiering in Europe.
Bong Joon Ho – bringing his new sci-fi black comedy, “Mickey 17”, starring Robert Pattinson.

A Festival with Political Resonance

Berlinale has long been recognized as the most politically engaged among Europe’s major film festivals. This year is no different, with screenings and discussions tackling significant historical and contemporary issues:

80 Years Since the Liberation of Auschwitz – The festival will screen Claude Lanzmann’s “Shoah” (1985), alongside “All I Had Was Nothingness”, a new documentary revisiting Lanzmann’s groundbreaking work on Holocaust representation in cinema.
“My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow” – A documentary about Russian intellectuals forced into exile under the current regime.
“Das Deutsche Volk” – A film addressing the 2020 racist shootings in Hanau, Germany.
“A Letter to David” – A cinematic letter dedicated to David Cunio, an Israeli still held hostage by Hamas.